Home repair & remodeling

Though it has been a month since Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey, many of us are still picking up from the damage and destruction to our homes, businesses, and communities. In an effort to aid those affected by the storm, EBSCO Publishing has donated access to its Home Improvement Reference Center (HIRC) database to patrons of New Jersey libraries. It's a generous way to help ease the process of clean-up and repair for those who are facing this difficult task.

HIRC is a comprehensive source of expert information on home repair and remodeling; it contains thousands of full-text magazine articles, reference books, videos, and images. Instructions are detailed, easy to understand, and designed for the do-it-yourself project. Covering a variety of needs and interests, including maintenance, remodeling, electrical, plumbing, woodworking, decorating, gardening, and interior design, this is a great tool for doing home improvements or for simply finding inspiration to start that next big project.

The homepage features keyword searching, an option to browse topics, and a highlighted project of the day. You can also download conversion charts and a homeowner's journal to keep track of maintenance and repairs.

As a reminder, if you have suffered damage or destruction to your home due to the hurricane, you may qualify for government assistance. For more information, rebuilding advice, and answers to your storm-related questions, visit www.disasterassistance.gov. Mercer County has also set up a Disaster Recovery Center at Mercer County Community College (1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550), or you can call FEMA at 800-621-3362.